Holder for beverage can



Nov. 21, 1967 R. s. HULL 3,353,729

HOLDER FOR BEVERAGE CAN Filed May 15, 1967 INVENTOR. Ros/5R r HUL 4 United States Patent 3,353,729 HOLDER FOR BEVERAGE CAN Robert S. Hull, New York, N.Y. (248 North Road, Smoke Rise, NJ. 07405) Filed May 15, 1967, Ser. No. 638,422 Claims. (Cl. 224-45) ABSTRACT OF THE DESCLOSURE A holder adapted either to support a member containing a plurality of beverage cans disposed parallel and side by side or to form a cup-like article having a handle adapted to hold a beverage can while permitting the beverage to be drunk directly from the can.

Summary of the invention My holder comprises a U shaped member having a straight section ex ending between two parallel legs extending at right angles thereto. A separate flexible bendable prong is secured to the free end of each leg. A rolled sheet of thin flexible material extends between the free ends of the legs parallel to the horizontal section.

In order to use this holder to hold a beverage can, the sheet is unrolled and opposite ends thereof are interconnected to form a hollow cylinder to receive the can, the U shaped member serving as a handle.

In the second type of use, a flat thin elongated member is provided with a plurality of spaced apart holes in which beverage cans can be inserted, and a pair of slots equidistantly spaced along the longitudinal center line of the flat member. The prongs of the U shaped member can be inserted into these slots whereby the U shaped member can be used as a handle to lift the cans carryin member.

Brief description 0 the drawings In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of my holder as used to hold a beverage can;

FIG. 2 is a detail perspective view of the holder of FIG. 1 as partially unrolled for use;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view through 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side view of my holder as used in carrying a plurality of cans;

FIG. 5 is a perspective top view of the cans supporting member of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the holder of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 7 illustrates the locking mechanism employed in the holders of FIGS. 4 and 5.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments Referring now to FIGS. 1-3 and 6, there is shown a U shaped member having a straight section 10' of H shaped cross section terminating at oppositely disposed legs 12 of like cross section extending at right angles thereto. Each leg terminates in a thin flexible prong 14. A roll of thin flexible sheet 16 extends between the ends of the legs and is parallel to section 10. This sheet can be unrolled to expose the opposite ends, each of which terminates in a finger-like extension 18 and carries an extension receiving slot 20. These ends can be interconnected by extensions and slots to define a hollow cylinder receiving can 22. The prongs can be bent around the can above and below the cylinder.

Referring now to FIGS. 4, 5 and 7, a flat elongated rectangular plate 28 can have six symmetrically disposed circular openings 24, slitted if necessary peripherally at 26, to receive cans 22 removably. Plate 23 has two equidistantly spaced slots 30 disposed along the longitudinal center line thereof. The prongs 14 of the U shaped member can each be inserted into a corresponding slot 3t) and thereafter engaged to lock the U shaped member to the plate for carrying purposes.

While I have described my invention with particular reference to the drawings, my protection is to be limited only by the terms of the claims which follow.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A holder for cans of beverage comprising a U shaped member having a straight section extending between two parallel legs extending at right angles thereto;

two flexible bendable prongs, each prong being secured to the free end of the corresponding leg; and

a rolled sheet of thin flexible material extending between the free ends of said legs parallel to said horizontal section, said sheet when unrolled with opposite ends thereof connected together defining a hollow cylinder open at both ends to receive a can of beverage, said prongs being adapted to be bent to contact said can at points above and below the cylinder, said member functioning as a handle.

2. A holder as set forth in claim 1 wherein the opposite ends of said sheet have cooperating means to enable said opposite ends to be secured together.

3. A holder as set forth in claim 2 wherein each of said opposite ends terminates in a finger-like extension and is also provided with an extension receiving slot.

4. A holder as set forth in claim 3 wherein said member in cross section has the shape of an H.

5. A holder as set forth in claim 4 further including a flat thin horizontal rectangular member having a plurality of circular can receiving holes and a pair of equidistantly spaced slots disposed along the longitudinal center line of the flat member, said pair of slots being engaged by said prongs.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,795,615 3/1931 Parran 294-312 X 2,605,945 8/1952 Dechar 294-312, X 3,104,788 9/1963 Wood 294-312 X 3,142,407 7/ 1964 Poupit'ch 224-4514 HUGO O. SCHULZ, Primary Examiner.

R. BALLANTYNE, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A HOLDER FOR CANS OF BEVERAGE COMPRISING A U SHAPED MEMBER HAVING A STRAIGHT SECTION EXTENDING BETWEEN TWO PARALLEL LEGS EXTENDING AT RIGHT ANGLES THERETO; TWO FLEXIBLE BENDABLE PRONGS, EACH PRONG BEING SECURED TO THE FREE END OF THE CORRESPONDING LEG; AND A ROLLED SHEET OF THIN FLEXIBLE MATERIAL EXTENDING BETWEEN THE FREE ENDS OF SAID LEGS PARALLEL TO SAID HORIZONTAL SECTION, SAID SHEET WHEN UNROLLED WITH OPPOSITE ENDS THEREOF CONNECTED TOGETHER DEFINING A HOLLOW CYLINDER OPEN AT BOTH ENDS TO RECEIVE A CAN OF BEVERAGE, SAID PRONGS BEING ADAPTED TO BE BENT TO CONTACT SAID CAN AT POINTS ABOVE AND BELOW THE CYLINDER, SAID MEMBER FUNCTIONING AS A HANDLE. 